Melbourne Reels from ‘Death to IDF’ Rallies After Synagogue Arson | WATCH
Tensions flare in Melbourne as nearly 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters chant “Death to the IDF” just days after a synagogue was deliberately set on fire.
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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanting “Death to the IDF” marched through Melbourne on July 6, 2025, just 48 hours after a synagogue was set ablaze, escalating tensions in Australia’s second-largest city. The rally, attended by nearly 1,000 people, followed a series of violent incidents targeting Jewish and Israeli-affiliated sites, prompting condemnation from officials and Jewish leaders.
The march, starting at the State Library and ending at Flinders Street Station, featured young girls leading chants of “Death to the IOF” (Israeli Occupational Forces) and placards with messages like “Death to the IDF,” “Glory to the Martyrs,” and “Israel is a Fascist Entity,” according to Sky News.
The route passed within a 15-minute walk of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, where a fire was allegedly set on July 4 by Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from New South Wales. Twenty worshippers escaped unharmed through a rear exit as firefighters battled the blaze. Loras, charged with arson, endangering life, property damage, and possessing a controlled weapon, was remanded in custody after appearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on July 6, with his next hearing set for July 22.
Hours after the synagogue attack, more than 20 protesters stormed Miznon, an Israeli-owned restaurant on Hardware Lane, some shouting “Death to the IDF,” resulting in one arrest, per LBC News. That same night, vehicles at Lovitt Technologies Australia, a defense contractor in Greensborough, were set ablaze and defaced with Palestinian flags and antisemitic graffiti, Victoria Police confirmed. The Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit is probing all three incidents, with no direct links established but a clear pattern of antisemitic motives noted.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, visiting the synagogue on July 6 with Jewish leaders, condemned the attacks: “There’s a link in antisemitism, in bigotry, in a willingness to chant or act violently. These attacks on Australia don’t belong here.” Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief Alex Ryvchin called the violence a reflection of a “violent ideology” exploiting anger and prejudice, targeting Jewish businesses and homes. He stressed that those chanting for death or burning houses of worship “are not peace activists.”
The incidents follow a surge in antisemitic attacks in Australia since the Gaza war began, with Jewish leaders noting their “startling frequency.” Victoria Police continue investigations, with several protesters identified for follow-up.
Similar protests took place in Stockholm: